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In this episode, we discuss the difference in how the media covered the death of Prince vs. the death of Robin Williams. Responsible journalism calls for portraying celebrity suicide as not something romantic and sensationalized, but rather as a disease that has treatment options and support.

Is the media partially to blame for suicidal contagion on college campuses? We talk about a recent article in the Psychiatric Times that talks about the risk, prevention, and management of suicide clusters, and how preventing that first suicide is key to stopping the “Werther Effect” of copycat suicides.

Lastly, we get an update on Doug’s progress with his depression. Is his DBS finally starting to kick in again?

We start by listing some celebrities known to have Major Depressive Disorder. Though their fame does bring much needed focus to mental illness, we strive for the day when it’s accepted as a disease that is out of the control of its victims. We also discuss the use of ketamine in the fight against treatment-resistant depression. Doug participated in ketamine trials and walks us through its dissociative effects and how it brings relief to some.

Lastly, we talk about the importance of family as a support system, and how TRD can tear families apart when their support is needed the most. Our podcast has started a conversation between Doug and some members of his family. The hope for reconciliation is there.

This episode opens with an emotional reveal of our struggle to get the episode recorded due to Doug’s most recent downward turn. Waking up depressed and angry for the last couple of days has forced Doug to postpone the show twice before we decided to openly discuss his feelings on-air.

Once we got the show going, our main topic of discussion was self-medication and medical marijuana. We discuss drugs, both prescribed and illicit, and how they can be abused by people who suffer from depression. Doug talks about some of the drugs he has taken, his long-term experience with marijuana, and how he’s using it now (hint: it’s not always positive for him).

We also get into some of the claimed psychological benefits of medical marijuana, discuss the different strains and how they affect the mind and body, and talk about Doug’s psychological addiction.

In this episode of Unhinged, we talk about the area of the brain called Area 25 and how it relates to mental health.We also find out why there are some psychologists who think that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is dangerous and prefer non-surgical, and even non-medicinal forms of therapy, including meditation, empathy, love, and mindfulness. The idea that the companies that make the neurotransmitter devices used in DBS are pushing the treatment for financial gain is also discussed.

Doug also gets into more detail about his DBS procedure, how it works, and what effects he has felt to date. He talks about how brain surgery, though considered a drastic measure by most people, did not even phase him due to his desperation in his search for a cure.

Google has finally released podcast support for Google Play Music this past Monday. Now, if you use Google Play Music as your music streaming service, you will also be able to subscribe and listen to podcasts as well.

Unhinged is proud to announce that we are indeed listed in Google Play Music. So if you’re a Google user, check us out here!

Howdy, folks. This is Ed, co-founder and technical producer of the Unhinged Podcast. I’m what some call the “normal” half of the Unhinged team, meaning I do not suffer from any mental health issues myself. However, being friends with Doug has given me quite a bit of experience dealing with mental illness and the effect it has on everyone that comes near it.

Many people may ask why I would get involved in such a serious topic when I could have easily started a site on something like guitar, photography, usability, or any of the other geeky interests I have. The answer is both simple and complex at the same time. Let me explain…

Episode #3 gets into some details of Doug’s most radical depression treatment: brain surgery. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of a device that sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific parts of the brain. It’s used to treat Parkinson’s, dystonia, and chronic pain, but has also proven effective in helping with Treatment Resistant Depression.

We also cover the unfortunate suicide of up and coming MMA fighter Cody Glode. A lack of immediate psychiatric help in Nova Scotia, and not being able to schedule a timely appointment with his doctor, partially contributed to his untimely death. Is there a healthcare crisis in Canada?

In our second episode of Unhinged, we touch on why some people with severe depression make good comedians. In fact, the need for approval or validation for some can push them to the arts. In our news segment, we delve into the question asked by Psychology Today: does Donald Trump have Narcissistic Personality Disorder? We break down the criteria for this diagnosis, and whether Trump fits the profile.

We also find out more specifics about Doug’s specific case of treatment resistant depression. You’ll hear just some of the treatments his doctor’s have tried, including electro-convulsive “shock” therapy, nearly every mood medication, and we’ll touch on a more radical surgical approach called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).

Welcome to Unhinged! This is our very first podcast, where we discuss who we are and what we will be talking about in this series. We introduce Doug, who has been suffering from treatment resistant depression for most of his life, and me (Ed), an old college buddy who leads what most would consider a “normal” life. In this episode, we touch on early childhood triggers and phobias and the differences between how I handled things versus Doug, and how our two roads diverged over the years.

Nature vs. Nurture is another topic discussed, as much of Doug’s issues were found to be neurological, yet the stigma of mental illness kept many people at a distance.

The Unhinged Podcast is an in-depth look at a 30 year friendship, one that started in an instant, and so incredibly meaningful and magnetic. More importantly though, is that one has spent a lifetime afflicted with Treatment-Resistant Depression all along, while the other has had to watch, helplessly, year after year, as his best friend battled this dreadful disease.

Doug (left) and Ed, Syracuse, NY, 1989

More often than not, this disease kills friendships, as well as causes major family conflict, mainly because this is a disease people most often cannot see, and simply are not capable of dealing with it’s many challenging issues.

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Unhinged: Talking Mental

We will attempt to publish one audio podcast episode per week. Each episode is roughly around 30-40 minutes in length and published as an mp3 file on this site and on other podcast sources (iTunes, Google Play, etc.)